Second instance in one month, pregnant woman claims she was transfused with HIV+ blood at public hospital

A woman in Tamil Nadu has claimed that she was transfused with HIV positive blood at the government-run Kilpauk Medical College in April. A similar incident was reported from Sattur district hospital.

The Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) and Hospital in Tamil Nadu&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspBCCL

Chennai: A woman in Tamil Nadu has alleged that she contracted HIV after receiving two units of blood as part of the treatment given to her by the government-run Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital in the state capital. A resident of Mangadu, the woman said that she was being treated for severe anemia during her second pregnancy in April of this year when she contracted the virus.

In a complaint they lodged with the Health Department in October, the woman's family members claimed that she received two units of blood at KMC when she was five months pregnant. Her blood sample tested positive for HIV four months later, they added. Speaking to sections of the media, the woman said that a health card held by her since prior to the transfusion states that she was 'HIV negative'.

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Responding to the allegations, the Dean of KMC, P Vasanthamani denied that the woman could have contracted HIV after the blood transfusion in April. An investigation was launched into the matter after a complaint by the Directorate of Medical Education and tests revealed that the transfused blood was screened and was free of HIV infection. The dean went ahead to claim that the woman had a "handwritten note" which read that she was HIV negative at the time of her admission to KMC in April.

Dr. P Vasanthamani: We found out that it is completely screened blood and it was negative. Clear-cut documentation is there. So, the possibility of HIV contracted infection after blood transfusion from the institute is very very negligent. (2/2) #Chennaihttps://t.co/VYHSS4uO71

A similar matter was reported from Tamil Nadu's Sattur district earlier this month when a 23-year-old pregnant woman was transfused with blood from an HIV positive donor at the Sattur government hospital. The matter came to light when the donor voluntarily informed lab technicians at the Sivakasi Government Hospital about her condition.

Second instance in one month, pregnant woman claims she was transfused with HIV+ blood at public hospitalDescription:A woman in Tamil Nadu has claimed that she was transfused with HIV positive blood at the government-run Kilpauk Medical College in April. A similar incident was reported from Sattur district hospital.Times Now